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After Capt。 Baxter was promoted to be major； Thomas Potts was elected
captain of the upper Pedee company； he had been captain in the rifle
regiment of state troops； and was a brave soldier and firm patriot。
Major Wemyss； in laying waste the country； was particularly inimical
to looms and sheep； no doubt that he might deprive the inhabitants of the
means of clothing themselves。 What sheep he did not kill for the use of his
men； he ordered to be bayoneted。 He burnt the Presbyterian church at
Indiantown； because； as he said； it was a sedition shop。 Before a house
was burnt； permission was seldom given to remove the furniture。 When he
came to Maj。 James' he was met by his lady with much composure。 He
wished to bring her husband to submission； and said to her； 〃If he would
come in and lay down his arms； he should have a free pardon。〃 She replied；
〃As to that she could not have any influence over him。 That times were
such he was compelled to take a part； and he had taken that of his
country。〃 Wemyss after this had her and her children locked up in a
chamber； from whence they did not come out； for two days and a half； and
until the house was about to be burnt。 Capt。 David Campbell （of Edisto；）
carried with his own hands； food and other refreshments to a back window
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Life of Marion。
for her； apparently unknown to Wemyss。 Capt。 John James； son of the
major； had been taken in Charleston； and paroled。 He was ordered into
custody； with the threat； that 〃If he was found to have broken his parole；
he would be hanged in the morning to yonder tree。〃 Accordingly a court
martial sat over him in the morning。 The witnesses called were his own
and his father's negroes； but； strange to tell； no evidence was given against
him； and he was acquitted。 Such were the mock trials of the British。 As；
when we come to speak of the battle of Eutaw； there will be many chiefs
of higher title to be named； it is but justice to Capt。 James now to mention；
that before that time he was exchanged； and fought there with much
bravery； as an adjutant。 As there was no trade or intercourse between that
part of the country and a market； people were to be seen； after the fires；
searching for every thing they could find； knife blades； scissors； hinges；
nails； &c。 Handles were put to the knives； dishes and plates were rudely
manufactured out of wood； and log huts were gradually built by the
assistance of one another。 Many negroes were taken out of Williamsburgh；
these were afterwards recovered by Maj。 James。 Directly after the retreat
of Rawdon from Camden； he； at the head of five or six men； passed
through the country from Santee to an island near Beaufort； where he
found and brought away one hundred and fifty； all plundered from his own
neighbourhood。 This account has been inserted here； that the chain of
events might not hereafter be broken。
It is stated； （page 45；*） that Col。 Tarleton took Mr。 James Bradley
prisoner； the manner in which this was done； and the subsequent treatment
of Bradley； are well deserving a place in this narrative。 After being chased
from his breakfast； thirteen miles below； by M'Cottry； Tarleton and a few
officers came to Bradley's at midday； passed himself as Col。 Washington；
and requested an early dinner。 Bradley provided dinner for him； and
unsuspectingly communicated to him the plans of his countrymen。 After
dinner； Tarleton asked him to guide him over two difficult fords across two
branches of Black river； near his house； Bradley consented； and after they
had passed Magirt's swamp； Tarleton told him he was a prisoner。 A wild
Arab would not have treated him thus。 Bradley； though circumvented in
this manner； was a wise but unsuspicious man； and before that had much
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Life of Marion。
influence in the legislature。 He was sent to Camden gaol； and confined in
heavy irons； he was often carted to the gallows and saw others executed；
he expected death； and was prepared for it； but he had many friends in
Marion's brigade； and it was well known to the enemy that his execution
would have been severely retaliated。 He was not released from gaol until
the 10th of May the next year； when Rawdon retreated from Camden； and
he bore the marks of the irons until his death。 Being requested； on one
occasion he showed these to the author； then a youth； and said； 〃If the
good of your country requires the sacrifice； be ready to suffer
imprisonment and death in its cause。〃 Soon after his confinement； Mrs。
Bradley petitioned Tarleton to liberate her husband； but he treated her with
scurrilous language and great brutality。 This man； who had been treated by
Mrs。 Bradley to a plentiful meal； after he had fasted for twenty…four hours；
and when he and his followers were fainting with fatigue and want； had
now the impudence and cruelty to call her by the grossest names in the
vocabulary of bilingsgate。 Mrs。 Bradley！ one of the most humane； gentle
and affectionate of her sex； who would willingly have offered him bread in
his true character。 Tarleton even denied her admittance with her supplies to
her husband； and she sought and obtained it elsewhere。
* Chapter II Paragraph 8。 A。 L。
To people of good feelings； but particularly the religious； this period
（1780 and 1781） was truly distressing。 From the time of the fall of
Charleston； all public education was at an end； and soon after； all public
worship was discontinued。 Men from sixty years of age； down to boys of
fourteen； （few of whom dared to stay at home） were engaged in active and
bloody warfare。 These had their minds in constant occupation； which； in
whatever moral situation a man may be placed； brings with it a certain
degree of satisfaction； if not contentment。 All were actuated by the love of
country； and but few by the love of fame： and next to the duties of religion；
the exercise of those of patriotism excites the highest energy and brings
the most sublime satisfaction to the human mind。 But to the female sex；
and the superannuated of the male； little consolation of that nature could
be afforded。 Even these were exposed to that kind